, 1887-12-24

ers will be facilitated, as much for their
own sake, as from consideration. to the
Factory. and this would notably besachiev-
ed in the first place by establishing factO-
ry Cane Stations, affording facilities for
delivery OF canes grown in the Eastern
part of the Island; whereby these would
very naturally be given still greater in
ducementS to labourerS to leave estates
work aud go u Squatting, thus increasing
the great want of labour already manifest
in the Western districts, where estates
exist without squatting. AT present, ow-
ing to hard times here and the hitherto
prevailing dry weather, the scarcity OF
available labour force on those estates has
not been expressed 50 strongly. But with
favourable weather aud the State treasury
backing the Factory, we musteXpect soon
to see the time, WHEN We shall have no
labourers to cultivate land for estates.
He therefore hoped that the Government
would consider, and the Colonial Council
pass, this Draft, so that we may get free
labOur in the Island.
The GOVERNMENTS Secretary said that His
ExcelIency the Governor had requested
him to make the following statement:
The question of having the expenses
by importing Immigrants betrayed in toto
from the immigration fund has in 1886
been under consideration and has been
laid before the Ministry of Finances who
hitherto at least has not thought proper to
agree to it. 1t cannot but appear to be
connected with great practical difficulties
TO comply with the wish expressed; for
while the quota which the planters at
present pay makes it possible for each
of them to get as many immigrants as
Ia, ,v3.I,N, 1,n a., f,u nc +b,V- n,,, Ia ,Nrn
vailed upon to come here, it would, in
case all expenses were paid by the Immi-
grafton fund. be almost impossible TO de-
eide which planters should be in preference
entitled to be taken into consideration.
On account of this difficulty, which the
Government at all events cannot see ut
present how it can be suitably s%urmounted,
the Government cannot give its support
to this Draft of Ordinance, and does not
think that the Ministry of Finances will be
disposed in favour of same.
3rd Member for Christiansted'S Country
District (Leeey) was in hope that those objec-
tiOns raised by the honorable Secretary or
the Government are the only ones to be made
against the Draft, for, those objections are
not hard to overcome. To the first Obiec-
ton, that the portion Of the expenses
now betrayed by planters for Introducing
labCurerS is so small that it is possible for
any planter to get as many immigrants as
he wants, he Ieevy) would merely say
that many planters are even without those
small means TO obtain i'm immigrants, although
they require them: but besides that, no
one would always be willing to pay SO for
a lahourer, when he does not know how
long he can keep him; there is, to name
an instance, one planter, who in the space
of 2 years has had LOG immigrantsO on those
terms and at this moment there is not one
of them on his estates 1t is not always
convenient that labourers should be train
ed on the larger estates, aud after a short
time they leave those estates, and go East
to squat. AS for the other objection, he
did not think it is difficult to overcome it;
for, who wants immigrants will apply,
and who don't want, WON'T apply; sNch APP
plicalionS could be received at the Police
offices, and as many planters have for
years paid the immigration tax, but have
had no immigrants, such planters should
DO Lowed to get; but otherwise those
who come first, should be the first served.
Tho Governments Secretary said that the
argument used by the honorable Member
himself, leads to the same view as that
held by the Governments; the measure is
to be general, to the. benefit of all; but
only those who apply are + get immi-
grants.
3rd Member for Christians ted1s' Country
District (Leeuy would add that the propos-
ed measure is not meant to last for ever;